Xiao Jinheng's mind was focused on the delicious food, and he didn't pay attention to what Old Man Yun and Magistrate Chen were discussing.
These sticky bean buns were truly delicious.
The imperial kitchens in the palace could never replicate this taste...
But he really couldn't eat any more!
Madam Gu smiled with relief and instructed Jin Huaihua, "Huaihua, pack a basket of bean buns for Young Master Xiao to take back later. Pick the big ones!"
Her family lacked fine grains, but coarse grains like cornmeal were plentiful.
Young Master Xiao had helped her family so much, front and back. Forget a basket of bean buns, even a cartful wouldn't be too much to ask...
"Magistrate Chen, then Big Brother and I will go to work today. He'll go to Tuofeng Mountain to plant trees, and I'll run errands at the county yamen!" Yun Erman said.
Magistrate Chen was instantly displeased upon hearing this. "What work? What trees are you planting?"
"Your house isn't even built yet, and you have so much work inside and out. Where do you have time to go to work?"
"The trees in the mountains aren't that delicate; they have people looking after them. Besides, the county yamen doesn't lack you alone. It doesn't matter if you go or not..."
As he spoke, Magistrate Chen subtly glanced at Xiao Jinheng. Seeing him nod, he let out a long sigh of relief.
It seemed his actions were correct.
Yun Daman scratched his head. "But... but Advisor Zuo said many yamen runners are unhappy. They say the Magistrate isn't fair and shows favoritism!"
"I'm afraid that if Second Man and I go, people will gossip, so... so we should still go to work!"
"Oh, didn't I say it's alright, it's alright!" Magistrate Chen tapped the dining table with his finger, his brow furrowed.
"Advisor Zuo is muddled and confused all day. Why listen to him?"
"Let those yamen runners say whatever they want. Who told them you're from the Yao Men family!"
"If they're not convinced, they can also become a Yao Men family..."
After saying this, Magistrate Chen looked at Xiao Jinheng again, only to find that he had already gone out to play with Sweet Baby and her daughter.
Did he hear what he just said?
Beside the dog kennel, Little Xi Tian was feeding the dogs.
The remaining vegetable soup mixed with wild vegetables and leftover rice was served in a basin. The five dogs, one large and four small, ate with great gusto...
Country dogs don't have such delicate stomachs; leftover food is enough to keep them alive.
However, they are very gluttonous.
Three meals a day aren't enough to fill them.
Sometimes Xue Ling would also take her pups into the mountains to hunt wild game...
Like the 'big-eyed thief' which was the best appetizer.
This was a type of field mouse, also called a mole.
They were all plump and fatty, and even the village's big cats couldn't handle them.
Next were the marmots, which were even larger than moles.
They stole grain from fields everywhere, looking foolish and robust. Villagers also called these creatures 'blind diggers.'
It wasn't that they got this name for being silly, but rather for their poor eyesight...
"Wow, so cute!" Chen Xiaoran bent down and picked up the red peach dog.
Its soft little belly, fluffy head, and smooth fur.
It was just too adorable...
"It's just that Mom and Dad don't let me keep dogs. Hmph, so annoying!" Chen Xiaoran complained while petting Red Peach.
Little Xi Tian heard this and smiled, "Then Sister Xiaoran can stay at my house for a few more days!"
"Stay for what!" Xiao Jinheng frowned. "Brother Fu's kang is small and can't accommodate you. You should go back to the city with Magistrate Chen soon!"
He was worried about the little village children being squeezed out of sleep.
Chen Xiaoran: "..."
Young Master Xiao, are you sick in the head!
If this young lady wants to stay, she'll stay. What business is it of yours?
"No, I want to stay here all summer!" Chen Xiaoran stuck out her tongue at him.
Red Peach also squatted on the ground, licking Chen Xiaoran's face...
Just then, Magistrate Chen, with Madam Huang, came out. They were about to leave.
Chen Xiaoran, who had been smiling brightly a moment before, burst into tears the next second.
"I don't want to go home, I don't want to go home, woo woo woo..."
This scene was exactly like a child who had gotten used to staying at her grandparents' or maternal grandparents' house, and suddenly her parents came to pick her up.
Madam Huang's head ached from the wailing. She nudged Chen Xiaoran, "Have you forgotten what you told Mom? You still have to attend private school when you get back. Do you want to become an illiterate fool?"
"Mom tells you, if you act like this, you'll never get married. No one will want to marry you!"
Chen Xiaoran cried even harder upon hearing this, sitting down on the ground and kicking her little legs. "I can get married, I want to marry..."
She looked around the yard and saw Fu Xiaoqiang just coming out of the outhouse, tying his trousers.
She shook her head, thinking it wasn't suitable.
Then she looked at Xiao Jinheng squatting beside Little Xi Tian. He looked fierce, and she didn't like him either.
So, Chen Xiaoran sniffled and sobbed loudly, "I want to marry Brother Jin He..."
As soon as she said this, the Yun family was stunned for two seconds.
What did this girl say? She wanted to marry Jin He?
Madam Huang was terrified and yanked Chen Xiaoran up from the ground. "You wicked girl, if you dare babble nonsense again, Mom will hit you!"
Yun Jin He was already fifteen years old, and her daughter was only eight. He was almost a head taller, which was clearly not suitable...
If it were Jin Shan, it would be acceptable. After all, he was only thirteen, and the five-year age difference between him and Xiaoran wasn't much.
Madam Gu took Chen Xiaoran's words as a child's tantrum and rubbed her head. "Xiaoran, you can't say such things casually!"
"I'm not saying them casually. Brother Jin Shan is handsome and talented. He's the type of brother I like..."
Chen Xiaoran lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with shyness.
In fact, a few times when Madam Huang took her shopping, they passed Jin Xiang Academy. From across the fence, she saw Yun Jin He wearing a white scholar's robe, holding a book in one hand, and reciting poetry under a willow tree...
That elegant gentleman's image blew into Chen Xiaoran's heart like a spring breeze.
She wasn't interested in the boisterous boys like Yun Jin Shan. Instead, the reserved and refined pale-faced young scholar caught her attention more.
Of course, Yun Da Man and Zhao Gui Hua were not ugly, so how could their sons be unattractive?
Madam Gu felt a hint of awkwardness, as did Madam Huang...
She had been thinking of having Yun Jin Shan marry into their family, but her daughter had taken a fancy to Yun Jin He instead.
It was truly a bizarre turn of events.
Little Xi Tian giggled and patted the dirt off Chen Xiaoran's buttocks. "Let's go for a walk to the village entrance together!"
She hadn't gone to check out her own plot of land yet.
As long as she could take Chen Xiaoran out to play, it would be implicitly understood that she could stay at the Old Yun family's house for a few days...
"Mhm, mhm!"
And so, two little girls and a young boy ran off to play.
Seeing this, Magistrate Chen tugged at Madam Huang. "What are you still looking at? Hurry up and get in the carriage to go back!"
There was a pile of matters waiting for him to handle at the county yamen.
Since Little Sweet Baby had already agreed to let her daughter stay, why were you still huffing and puffing?
Madam Huang stomped her foot and walked out in a huff...